Blog of the Month: Booking with Manic

SAMSUNGThe 411:

Booking with Manic specifically features chick lit, women's fiction, new adult, humor, some self-help and memoir and the occasional dude-lit books. I vary how often I blog. I've been known to do blog-blitzing, where I'll post a book every day for a month (last year I did March Madness and it was CRAZY to keep up with 31 days of blogging and giving away 31 books in a month). I try to feature at least a book a week.

Why do people love Booking with Manic?

Every book featured includes a giveaway and I try to make each post personal and creative - bringing something from the book to connect to real life.

What is unique about Booking with Manic?

To enter to win, the reader has to answer a question that relates to something that has to do with the book -- whether it is something with the themes in the book, the title of the book, etc. For instance, for Meg Donohue's debut, How to Eat a Cupcake, the logical question I asked was "What is your favorite cupcake flavor?" (By the way, Meg's next book, All The Summer Girls is AMAZING!) But what I love the best about my blog and what I think is so unique about it is that since I do ask these personal questions, I feel like I really get to know the Booking with Manic readers, and I also share with them how I would answer the answer I'm asking. I learn stuff about them, and really do get to know them, which I love. It becomes more personal to me.

Where to read more about Booking with Manic:

Facebook and Twitter.

What inspires you?

Right now, honestly, my 11 year old son Luke is inspiring me. He was diagnosed with epilepsy last spring and to watch him just be a kid and know that he's getting through what he's been through -- that is inspiring. I'm so lucky to get to be his mom.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what celebrity would you want to be with you?

Ugh. I really wouldn't want a celebrity. I would want books. But I guess if I had to choose, it would be a toss-up between, and you may laugh, but I'm going to choose Vince Vaughn or Johnny Knoxville. I will probably take Vince though, because Johnny might be too scrawny.

What's one inanimate object you can't live without?

What's an 'inanimate' object? I'm seriously going to look that up... Oh, so you mean like not my family members, like an iPhone or something like that... I can live without makeup. I probably could live without my phone. I guess I would have to say my contacts. And pretty soon it's going to be those 'cheater' glasses. I just turned 44. It pains me to say that. Truth hurts.

What books are you adding to your bookshelf this year?

Love this question! Anything and everything written by: Jen Lancaster (Can't wait for her Martha Stewart Tao book!), Emily Giffin, Sarah Pekkanen, Sarah Jio (am waiting for a quiet stretch of time to read The Last Camellia), I'm excited to see this new one Allison Winn Scotch wrote, Covet by Tracey Garvis Graves, Laura Dave needs to come out with a new one, Dina Silver's Finding Bliss, I'd love to know if Sere Prince Halverson has another on its way - I loved The Underside of Joy, Julie Buxbaum - I'm waiting for YOU to publish another, Zoe Fishman needs to write faster... do I sound a bit demanding on the authors I want to have books published?

Thanks, Stephanie!

Blog of the Month: Chick Lit Plus

clp headerWe're excited to announce that we've selected Chick Lit Plus as the Blog of the Month for March! We love the ladies behind this blog: Samantha March and Sara Palacios! Welcome!

The 411:

Samantha March started Chick Lit Plus in October of 2009 as a seed of an idea – to help her become a published author. Already an avid reader, she loved expressing her views about books and talking about writing, so it seemed obvious to jump on the blog explosion. She first started reviewing books she found at the library, and after only one month of blogging was offered to interview Jackie Collins. Since then, Chick Lit Plus has expanded to include two associate reviewers, a blog tour company CLP Blog Tours, and a publishing company, Marching Ink.

Samantha

Why do people love Chick Lit Plus?

Chick Lit Plus celebrates many aspects of books and women in general. We love giving shout outs to authors and bloggers alike, and we love to encourage people to make your own opportunities!

What is unique about Chick Lit Plus?

Chick Lit Plus doesn’t just focus on books and writing – this is where the “Plus” comes in. We also write articles on celebrities, fashion, beauty, and fitness.

 

Where to read more about Chick Lit Plus:

Facebook and Twitter

What inspires you?

Knowing there is no glass ceiling anymore. We live in a world where we make our own opportunities and strive to remember that every day.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what celebrity would you want to be with you?

Samantha: Channing Tatum – how obvious is that one, ladies?

Sara: Do I have to pick just one? I would go with Tim Duncan (Go Spurs Go!), Emily Giffin (huge fan) and Paula Deen (because there might be buttah on the island).

What's one inanimate object you can't live without?

Samantha: Laptop  - it is my life.

Sara: My iPhone. Hands down.

Sara

What books are you adding to your bookshelf this year?

Samantha: Waaaay too many list! I’m excited for Allie Larkin, Sarah Pekkanen, Sarah Jio, and Anita Hughes. Also I’m hoping to add another from Marching Ink’s Cat Lavoie, CLP’s own Sara Palacios, and possibly even myself this year!

Sara: 2013 is going to be a big year for Chick Lit and I am so excited for the following titles: The Accidental Husband by Jane Green, Covet by Tracey Garvis Graves, Revenge Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger and The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell

 

Thanks, ladies!

Blog of the Month: Chick Lit Central

Welcome to our latest feature, Blog of the Month!  Each month we'll be showcasing one of our favorite sites so you can get to know them better.  Kicking it off?  Chick Lit Central, which was launched in May of 2010!

The 411:

Melissa Amster first started Chick Lit Central as a Facebook group to discuss chick lit novels with women all over the world. She saw book blogs doing reviews and interviews, so she decided to add that aspect. As soon as she did, Sarah Pekkanen offered her debut novel, The Opposite of Me, for review. Soon, she was meeting authors (Allie Larkin’s interview was the first one ever) and running giveaways. Since then, the group has expanded to include two partners (Amy and Melissa P.), five associate reviewers and a promotional associate. We’ve reached over 940 followers at the blog and are still growing!

Why do people love CLC?

It’s very friendly. We love books, authors, readers, etc. We don’t compete with other chick lit blogs and try to share the love whenever possible. It’s truly a place to celebrate chick lit!

Melissa Amster

What is unique about CLC?

We give shout outs to books, even when we don’t have the time to review each and every novel or feature each and every author. We have Books of the Week, which we’re starting to phase out and just added a BookShelf page. We also do theme months and share information about ourselves from time to time, in relation to the theme.

Where to read more about CLC:

Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Goodreads

What inspires you?

Amy: Wow, now this is a tough question because many many things do.  One that comes to mind right off the bat is seeing female business women make it to the top, especially successful women entrepreneurs. For example, Jennifer Gilbert, the author of I NEVER PROMISED YOU A GOODIE BAG, besides having to deal with a life shattering struggle, made it all the way to the top, and has her own event planning company, Save The Date. Another example is Alli Webb, founder of The Dry Bar. If you live near one of these salons, you have to book yourself an appointment. They specialize in blow drys. You will look fantastic after your service. There are many salons across the country and more keep coming. Alli was on The Katie Show in an episode featuring successful women entrepreneurs.

Melissa A: I agree with Amy about seeing women who have achieved their dreams/goals. I love reading stories about entrepreneurial women.

Melissa P: Many things inspire me from day to day. I would have to say though that the main sources of inspiration for me are music, dance, nature, and travel. There have been many times while writing that I hear a song and it inspires an entire scene and drives the feeling and emotion behind it.

Amy Bromberg

If you were stranded on an island, what celebrity would you want to be with you?

Amy: Really? Just one???? Sorry, but I have three: Of course the gorgeous and sexy Rob Lowe. Steve Martin. If you're stranded on an island you need some laughter right? Last, but not least, Meryl Streep...she doesn't need any particular reason.

Melissa A: I’m a big fan of How I Met Your Mother and I adore Jason Segel (Marshall). However, I don’t think my husband would be too happy with an arrangement involving me being alone with him. Therefore, I think Cobie Smulders (Robin) and I would have a blast and instantly become friends. I also don’t think Neil Patrick Harris (Barney) would be much of a threat. We could sing show tunes and he’d make me laugh.

Melissa P: Easy. Derek Jeter. Need I say more?

What's one inanimate object you can't live without?

Amy: Have to pick two again: books and lip balm.

Melissa A: My laptop. It has my PC Kindle, photos, videos, etc. Basically, it’s my life. I go ballistic when it’s not working!

Melissa P: This is a tie between my iPhone and my laptop. They both do essentially the same things just on a different scale. As long as I can listen to music, write, and FaceTime with my loved ones, I don't need anything else.

Melissa

What books are you adding to your bookshelf this year?

Amy: You ready for a huge list?  The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers, The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio, Market Street by Anita Hughes, Why Can't I Be You by Allie Larkin, Family Pictures by Jane Green, The Best of Us by Sarah Pekkanen, J'Adore Paris by Isabelle LaFleche, A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams, All The Summer Girls by Meg Donohue, Looking For Me by Beth Hoffman, and of course Jennifer Weiner's next book.

Melissa A: Too many!!! I am so excited to already have Family Pictures by Jane Green, The Best of Us by Sarah Pekkanen and The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio. I ordered Jodi Picoult’s latest novel and will get that later this month. I’m also looking forward to purchasing Khaled Hosseini’s next novel as I loved his previous two. Also, most of the books on Amy’s list.

Melissa P: Anything by Jane Green, Elin Hilderbrand, Sophie Kinsella, or Marian Keyes to name a few...the list is endless!!!

Thanks Ladies!  xoxo, L&L